Identification of Drought Tolerant Desi Cotton Genotypes Based on Drought Tolerance Indices

The present experiment was conducted in two environments viz. irrigated and rainfed, with three replications randomized block design at Research Area of Cotton Section, Department Genetics & Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana) during Kharif 2021-22. Fifty elite desi cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) genotypes were grown as experimental material. Five plants randomly selected from each genotype observations recorded on eight morphological traits plant height, number monopods per plant, days to first flower, bolls boll weight, seed yield seeds boll, ginning out turn six physiological relative water content, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration total chlorophyll proline content. Under both the environments, sufficient amount variability among all for studied traits. significant decrease mean performance observed except content under rainfed condition. Based drought tolerance indices YSI (Yield Stability Index) DSI (Drought Susceptibility Index), se other contributing traits, P 533, 551, PAIG 129, DA-3/02 DA-2/02 found most tolerant test these may be used future breeding programs develop higher yielding varieties.